TS - Schectman to join Gallegos' staff as a 'volunteer'

Schectman to join Gallegos
Andrew Bird The Times-Standard
Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 6:17:09 AM PST

EUREKA -- A tenacious ally of District Attorney Paul Gallegos in the unsuccessful attempt to recall him last year may help Gallegos pursue a lawsuit against the company that tried to unseat him.

Arcata attorney Steve Schectman, who slammed Pacific Lumber Co. and two candidates seeking Gallegos' job during the brutal recall campaign a year ago, will join the district attorney's office as a volunteer to pursue the civil fraud case against Palco, Gallegos said Wednesday.

"We're taking the step because he's willing to help us," Gallegos said. "We're hoping to bring on a couple of other civil attorneys."

Other private practice attorneys have offered to volunteer in the Palco case, Gallegos said Wednesday, declining to give any names.

Schectman, an experienced civil law attorney, was one of Gallegos' most zealous supporters in the months leading to the March 2004 recall election, although he actually ran as a candidate to replace Gallegos.

Fresh off his stunning defeat of incumbent District Attorney Terry Farmer, Gallegos in early 2003 filed a civil lawsuit against the timber giant Palco, alleging the company lied to state and federal lawmakers during the 1999 Headwaters Forest deal.

Palco immediately called the suit baseless and politically motivated and began bankrolling a petition drive to recall Gallegos, spending more than $70,000 to pay signature gatherers.

In November 2003 enough signatures were gathered to force a special election in March 2004.

The campaign that followed was one of the nastiest in Humboldt County history, and it turned out to be the most expensive.

Recall supporters -- with Palco and its parent company, Maxxam Inc., contributing the lion's share -- raised $300,000

Gallegos supporters raised a similar amount from a large number of smaller contributions.

Schectman actually became the first person to put his name on the ballot to take over Gallegos' job if the recall were successful.

But Schectman made it clear from the beginning he was an ardent supporter of Gallegos, and of the lawsuit against Palco.

During the campaign Schectman routinely criticized Palco and the company's effort to recall Gallegos and attacked the two other candidates on the ballot, Gloria Albin Sheets and Worth Dikeman.

On election day, March 2, 2004, Gallegos easily defeated the recall attempt, with 61 percent of the vote in his favor.

Gallegos said Wednesday his office is comprised of attorneys with criminal law experience and that Schectman can provide the civil experience needed in the Palco lawsuit.

"Civil litigation is a lot more procedural, a lot more paper, a lot more time," Gallegos said.

And Gallegos stated emphatically that Schectman will not receive any compensation for his work.

"None whatsoever," Gallegos said. "There's nothing on the table."

Schectman Wednesday was low-key about the arrangement.

"It's nothing official yet," Schectman said. "It's something I'm considering. It's something the DA's office is considering."

Shortly after filing the lawsuit, Gallegos asked the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors for permission to retain a powerful Bay area law firm, Cotchett, Pitre, Simon & and McCarthy.

But the supervisors rejected the request with a 4-1 vote.

Assistant District Attorney Tim Stoen, Gallegos' top deputy who is in charge of the Palco case, said Schectman will be able to provide some of the civil pluck he was hoping to get from Cotchett, Pitre, Simon & and McCarthy.

"I'll accept help from anybody who has expertise," Stoen said Wednesday.

Schectman has a track record against Palco.

Schectman and Eureka attorney Bill Bertain represented more than 30 Stafford residents whose homes were crushed by a landslide on New Years Eve 1996, allegedly due to clearcutting by Palco. The company insisted the slide was caused by heavy rains alone, and in 2003, settled the case without admitting wrongdoing.

Schectman also sued Palco on behalf of the mother of an anti-logging activist who was killed when a tree fell on him while protesting on Palco property in 1998.

Palco also settled this case out of court in 2003 for an undisclosed amount.

Schectman also has his baggage.

The state Labor Commission in fall of 2001 and early 2002 ordered Schectman to pay a total of more than $40,000 in wages plus interest to four people who worked as apprentices in his law firm in 1999 through 2001.